Practical Elegance

Luxury redefined for everyday living

A new kind of luxury is shaping how families design their homes, and it has little to do with perfection. Dubbed “practical elegance” by designers, it’s a shift toward interiors that feel elevated yet are meant to be lived in, loved and occasionally spilled on. 

Instead of precious rooms and fussy materials, clients are gravitating toward furnishings that deliver both beauty and purpose. Though the trend is especially appealing to parents of young children, it also calls to first-time homeowners and young couples who are still discovering their taste, says Designer Kerith Flynn, founder of Margali & Flynn Designs. 

The key, she notes, is investing in timeless, well-made pieces that hold their ground while small accents — pillows, blankets, art — can evolve around them. “Dog owners are definitely in this category… and a lot of grandparents,” adds Hillary Cohen, principal and founder of HCO Interiors. 

As Sag Harbor-based designer Allison Babcock puts it, “Beautiful rooms shouldn’t feel like you can’t touch anything.” 

Built to Last
Investment pieces do more than elevate a room, designers say. They prove their worth during years of use. With children, pets or a house full of guests, durability becomes an essential form of luxury.

For starters, a quality sofa or sectional is often the cornerstone of family life, and Flynn advises paying special attention to material and construction. “Choose fabric carefully if you want your sofa to last,” she says. “Performance fabrics are extremely common and can be offered in a wide range of materials and color options.”

Rub-count matters, Flynn notes (a higher rating equals higher durability). She recommends furniture brands like Vanguard, Bernhardt and Century, along with hardwood or engineered wood flooring to support long-term use from the ground up.

Cohen agrees that the most-used pieces deserve the highest quality. “Investment pieces should be the ones you touch and use constantly,” she says, pointing to solid wood dining tables, upholstered seating in performance or outdoor fabrics, and wool rugs that soften with age rather than show wear.

Think of these pieces as anchors, Babcock says: “Investment pieces should be beautifully made, highly functional and able to evolve with your family.” Her go-to resources reflect that balance, including Maiden Home, HighlandHouse, Kravet, and Baker for upholstery; 1stdibs, Lawson Fenning, and Allied Maker for tables and lighting; and durable rug makers like Stark, Armadillo, and Nordic Knots. 

When Form Marries Function
With practical elegance, every piece earns its place. Nowhere is that clearer than in multipurpose rooms, where design must quietly support real life. Instead of fighting toys, pet hair and constant activity, these spaces incorporate storage, durability and flexibility into their style.

In Cohen’s own living room, which doubles as a playroom, a sleek bookcase sits behind the sofa, hiding toys when not in use. Ottomans with concealed compartments, consoles with drawers, and end tables with shelves keep daily clutter out of sight. “That’s the secret: beautiful storage that works hard without announcing itself,” she says. 

Modular seating is another hero of functional design, Flynn adds. They “offer the opportunity to change your space around in the future without needing to invest in all new pieces,” she says.

In Babcock’s living-room/playroom hybrids, the designer pairs a performance-fabric sectional with a grasscloth or white oak credenza to tuck things away. The space is softened with a durable wool rug and finished with sculptural Visual Comfort lamps. “Practical elegance is about creating a home that feels beautiful and is completely livable at the same time,” Babcock says. “Clients want interiors that feel elevated and effortless, rooms that welcome real life.”